Re: [Callers] Calling & Playing for Squares at a Contra

For many of us old geezers, when we started, a contra was a dance evening that included squares, contras, circle mixers, Sicilian circles, and other forms. Triple minors were a regular feature. Now I play, call, and dance all. And I teach about these subjects, too. When I teach about playing for contras and squares I point out that their needs are different, but can overlap. The tunes can be the same, the instrumentation, and even the general approach to playing them as a band. Here some differences I point out: Contra dances are repetitive, the caller can stop calling. Then the band provides the variety. Orchestrations, dramatic key changes, jig to reel, bombardes, singing. And certain band excel at this style. I think of it as getting on a rollercoaster building up, getting small, loud, soft, heavy on the off-beat, coming down hard on the on-beat. It's a lot of fun playing for contras. In square dances -- even New England squares -- the caller provides more of the variety. Opening, break, figure, break, figure, break, closing. Or ad-libbing (hash), or including lots of patter, etc. This is why hot, great, southern old-time music works here -- and one can have fantastic times dancing to, calling to and playing for squares. I call it getting on a the train and smoking. Instead of orchestrating lots of variation, you get in a groove and go. It smolders, it smokes, it's propulsive, and it's wonderful. It's great to dance to good calling and a smokin' band. And it's different than playing for contras. And, it's a lot of fun playing for squares. Then there's playing for singing squares. Here the band turns into a backup band. They are no longer responsible for the melody, the singer (caller) does that. I enjoy doing this too. But I have stopped calling a lot of these, because there are many like Dave, who don't enjoy this style of playing. I remember doing a gig with Mark Simos (and we'd be mighty lucky if he played for dances more!); prior to the gig he actually asked if I did any singing squares. I was taken aback -- it had been so long since I'd called a singing square, and never been approached by the band asking if I wanted to! In San Luis Obispo, where I was the house caller with the house band -- the Growling Old Geezers (well a that time they were The Wagon Yard Wamblers...). With them, I'd cut them loose and play guitar and sing the square solo. That'd give the band a chance to dance. Playing for singing squares is fun, too. This is to say, playing for contras, squares, singing squares, they're just different. All have their own demands. Some of us like all of them, and are happy to support the callers and communities that also like them all. When I call, I try to call to the strengths of the band. Contras only if they don't like playing for squares. Include squares if the band likes playing for them. Singing squares if the band is up for it. As a dancer, caller, and musician, I like them all! erik hoffman ~oakland, ca On 9/11/2013 8:13 AM, rich sbardella wrote: